The University of Massachusetts quarterback sweepstakes goes to redshirt freshman Brandon Hill.

The 6-foot-5 right-hander out of Audubon, N.J., beat out redshirt sophomore Kellen Pagel to earn the starting job for the Minutemen, who open the season Thursday at Holy Cross in Worcester.

"In the offseason, I worked hard and I've been working toward this for my entire life," Hill said Monday. "I know Kellen worked hard, too. What won it for me? I don't know. I worked hard and did everything I could, tried to learn as much as I could.

"Kellen's a great quarterback and it was a good competition and I learned a lot from him as well," Hill said.